A37042:789
The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal…
The dying man's testament to the Church of Scotland, or, A treatise concerning scandal divided into four parts ... : in each of which there are not a few choice and useful questions, very shortly and satisfyingly discussed and cleared / by ... Mr. James Durham ... who being dead (by this) yet speaketh ; and published by John Carstares ... ; to which is prefixed an excellent preface of famous Mr. Blair ... ; together with a table of the contents of the several chapters of each part.
Edinburgh: printed by Christopher Higgins, 1659
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
11. If yet the Reader be not convinced positively to join and further union in such a case, let him yet consider if he hath sufficient clearness to oppose and cry down the same as sinful, and if he hath liberty and freedom to cry down all that ever have approven or do approve the removing of a division upon such terms as these proposed? and if he dare with confidence from his own particular dissatisfaction, mar the same amongst others? and if possibly he might not have more freedom negatively to lye by, and neither directly nor indirectly to be the occasion of such an offence; and if the Church might not have more profit, and he more peace in so doing? and if he be satisfied, he may consider whether it were not better to endeavour such a composure, though to the dissatisfaction of some (who possibly may afterward lay by their discontent) than out of preposterous respect to them, to hazard the ruin of all? which is, as it were, to bring a leaking ship to land in a storm, though some of the company, upon some mistake, oppose the same.
11. If yet the Reader be not convinced positively to joyn and further union in such a case, let him yet consider if he hath sufficient clearnesse to oppose and cry down the same as sinfull, and if he hath liberty and freedom to cry down all that ever have approven or do approve the removing of a division upon such terms as these proposed? and if he dare with confidence from his own particular dissatisfaction, mar the same amongst others? and if possibly he might not have more freedom negatively to lye by, and neither directly nor indirectly to be the occasion of such an offence; and if the Church might not have more profit, and he more peace in so doing? and if he be satisfied, he may consider whether it were not better to endeavour such a composure, though to the dissatisfaction of some (who possibly may afterward lay by their discontent) than out of preposterous respect to them, to hazard the ruine of all? which is, as it were, to bring a leaking ship to land in a storm, though some of the company, upon some mistake, oppose the same.
12. Let him consider, if ever condescending in such things hath been observed to bring any hurt to the Church; whereas selfwillednesse (whereof a Minister especially should be free) hath always been dangerous. It's true, [Greek or Hebrew] in points fundamental, such as that which Anastasius pressed, hath been most zealously opposed as hurtful, because thereby the foundation was strucken at, and error in fundamental things got equal footing with truth; But can ever this be said in such things as are supposed in the case laid down?